Tuesday, February 03, 2015

Texas Sharia Tribunal Judge Gives Prayer at Rodeo

The first known Sharia Law Islamic Tribunal to operate in the U.S. has been established in North Texas, and one of its judges, Imam Moujahed Bakhach, gave the opening prayer at a local rodeo but reaction by patrons forced cancellation of the Imam's repeat performance the following week.

“[Americans believe] that Sharia means cut the head, chop the heads, cut the hands and we are not doing that. . . . We are not here to invade the White House or invade Austin. We are humble and want to settle a problem between Muslims.”-- Imam Moujahed Bakhach, of the Islamic Association of Tarrant County, and a Tribunal Judge

It is how Muslims settle disputes in many countries in the Middle East.

Guided by the Muslim religious moral code known as “Sharia,” the judges are offering up their services to handle case involving divorce, business problems, and other disputes among the [Texas] community.

[Tribunal Judge Dr. Taher] El-badawi said they do not handle criminal accusations, child support, custody battles or any transfer of assets.

“People are concerned that there are conflicts between Sharia Law and state law or whatever else. So that’s an important area we need to watch,” said John DeGroote, a lawyer who practices business mediation and is an arbitrator.

Imam Moujahed Bakhach of the Islamic Association of Tarrant County delivered the blessing at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo on Jan. 25 as part of a program in which members of different faiths offer prayers before rodeo events.

Rodeo announcer Bob Tallman, known for giving the event a Christian tone, said Bakhach “did a wonderful job," according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

“We live in a big world and a very changing world,” Tallman told the Star-Telegram. “Some people don’t deal well with change. I’ve learned how to live with and be fine with it.”

The website for the Islamic tribunal states: “It is with this issue that Muslims here in America are obligated to find a way to solve conflicts and disputes according to the principles of Islamic Law and its legal heritage of fairness and justice in a manner that is reasonable and cost effective.”

El-badawi was asked what would happen if there is conflict between the laws of Texas and Sharia law. He responded that the laws are in agreement most of the time, but said that Sharia would take precedence out of the two in the tribunal.

[According to the Islamic Tribunal website] . . . the nonprofit is pushing "to set a precendence [sic] that will be emulated and duplicated" throughout the United States.

Despite the four judges' (which include three imams) assurances they will operate to show "non-Muslim communities that we are here in this country to spread peace and love," they present their case for even existing by speaking with some contempt for the U.S. legal system. They call it "costly" and consisting of "ineffective lawyers" and insist there can be no detachment "from the tenets of faith and all Islamic injunctions in regards to the legal field."

Although they say they simply want to assist Muslims in this country who are "discontent" with the local, state and federal legal system and so "postpone justice in this world and opt for an audience on the Day of Judgment," it is clear they hope to be much more of an influence, even "recognized" as a legal authority "by the courts."

"This may be incrementally developed by educating ourselves and also the legal professionals in the country, so understandably it may naturally take time to find its way to be commonly accepted..."

Giving thanks at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo has become more diverse this year as officials have cast a wider net to include more faith-based groups that offer prayers before the bareback bronc riding begins.

While many of the comments on the Stock Show’s Facebook page were supportive of the more inclusive prayer policy, most were not. Opposition did not seem personally directed at Bakhach or his words, but expressed outrage at the inclusion of a member of the Islamic clergy during a time of violence and extremism involving radical Muslim terrorists.

The Fort Worth Stock Show has long featured a Christian flavor, from evangelical-like comments of longtime rodeo announcer Bob Tallman to the growing popularity of Cowboy Church, which is held Sunday mornings at the Will Rogers Auditorium.

Brad Barnes, president and general manager of the Stock Show, who is at each performance of the rodeo, said he saw no indication of anger in the crowd on Sunday, and he characterized Bakhach’s blessing as “spot-on” and “very appropriate.”